ITALIANIZING. 6? 



will hatch the finest Brahma eggs, and care for the 

 chickens. So black bees will take care of pure Ital- 

 ian eggs, and rear from such eggs pure Italian 

 queens. 



10. April 28th was the thirteenth day from the 

 beginning of the transferring. It was possible that 

 by the next day a few black drones would begin to 

 hatch from those stocks first transferred. I was 

 prepared to begin the exterminating war against 

 these black drones. Will was called in to help. 

 We had a hard day's work before us. We desired 

 to work rapidly, and not to be in danger of stings. 

 Our trowsers were tucked into our boots, so that no 

 bees could crawl up our legs. We discarded coats 

 for the day, and wore woolen shirts instead, so that 

 there could be no crawling of bees under the coats, 

 up our backs and around our necks. Close-fitting 

 gloves were put on, which buttoned tightly around 

 the wrists over the wristbands of our shirts. Then 

 putting on the bee-veils, we were quite proof 

 against the most vigorous onsets of any angry bees. 

 Such close protection is usually quite unnecessary. 



I now go among my hives fearlessly, with neither 

 gloves nor veil. But then I had little experience, and 

 it was easier and pleasanter to protect oneself than 

 endure the discomfort and delay which even a few 

 stings might cause. The smoker was ready, and 

 plenty of fuel to fill it as often as necessary. At 



